Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 75: A private meeting under the moon
Now that the matter was settled, Xue Sui's life became more leisurely. She was like an ordinary girl waiting to be married, waiting in the mansion, preparing to get married.

The courtyard that Aunt Xue had just been assigned was formerly called "Jingyou Courtyard" and was near Lixiang Courtyard. This courtyard was previously occupied by the Third Miss and had been unused for many years. Qian had obtained the consent of Xue Sui and Xue Ji in advance to let the two of them live closer together so that they could take care of each other.

Xue Sui had nothing to do, so he gave it a new name.

"Yuyanju."

The four new maids assigned by the old ladies were also given new names. The eldest one, who was the same age as Xiaozhao, was named "Huizhi", and the remaining three were named "Huilan", "Huiquan" and "Huixing" respectively.

Xue Ji has been in a very good mood these two days.

Perhaps it was on the wedding day that I heard Xue Qingzhi’s long-lost “I’m sorry” with my own ears.

Years of debt were made up in one day, and a smile appeared on her face.

"These names are so elegant, I don't know how to pronounce them. Sixth sister, where did you learn these skills..."

This mother knew very little about Xue Sui's affairs.

It can even be said that we know nothing.

Although Xue Sui would take care of things for her and consider her, they were still not as close as ordinary mother and daughter.

Xue Ji often felt as if there was a layer between them.

Sometimes I want to get closer, want to care, but I don’t know where to start…

The Sixth Girl, who has grown up, no longer needs her useless care.

But Xue Ji lived her life in a confusion, unable to figure out many things. She was like an ignorant child, letting her daughter arrange everything for her.

Xue Sui just dealt with her casually.

"At that time, I followed the master to learn embroidery in Jiuling Marsh. When I had nothing to do, I would read a few poetry books to pass the time."

Xue Ji smiled and said, "You are so lucky to have met a good person. Your master is really a living Bodhisattva..."

Xue Sui smiled slightly, "Yes."

Once a person has experienced despair, his perspective on many things will be different.

Although every inch of land and every thing in the old mausoleum marsh had nothing to do with Bodhisattva, the master often spoke coldly to them, rarely approached them, and never smiled on his face all year round.

But who says that Bodhisattva must have a smiling face?
You can have mercy on all living things, or you can use a knife.

After Yuyanju was replaced with a new plaque, Xue Sui sat with Xue Ji for a while and then returned to Lixiangyuan.

Ruyi was teasing Lingyu by the window, and several little girls gathered around her, chattering.

Lingyu hadn't been on a mission for several days. He walked back and forth on the windowsill, occasionally pecking Ruyi's palm, making the little girl laugh...

The servants in Lixiangyuan are much bolder in their behavior than before. They no longer have to be as restrained as before and act according to other people's wishes.

The Sixth Miss was deeply loved by the old lady, and she was also granted the title of "Hui Nu" by the Emperor, making her a distinguished lady in the mansion.

Xue Sui sat down silently and watched them having fun, his eyes and brows were gentle but without a smile.

Suddenly, a dark gray shadow passed across the sky.

It stayed for a moment on the eaves of Lixiangyuan, then flapped its wings and flew over the heads of several maids. Amidst the screams, it gently landed on the windowsill and touched heads with Lingyu, as if they were having an intimate conversation.

"Where did the pigeon come from?"

"Black!"

"No, it's gray!"

Xue Sui stood up in surprise, "Mo Ling?"

This dark gray pigeon is called Mo Ling, and it is a pair with Ling Yu.

Mo Ling was raised by the eldest senior brother.

Xue Sui sent the little maids out, asked Xiao Zhao to close the window, and took the letter box from Mo Ling's feet.

It turned out to be a message from Tianshu, asking her to meet him.

A complicated light appeared in Xue Sui's eyes.

After a while, everything returned to calm.

"Xiao Zhao, bring the ancient prescription book I found in the study the other day. Also pack up Ming'er's medicine box."
-
When she left the house, she took Ming'er with her and asked Ruyi to ask the steward to send a car first.

By now, the steward and doorman of the Xue Mansion had been replaced by people arranged by the Third Lady. She ordered a carriage, and soon the most spacious one was prepared for her. The horse looked fat and healthy, with shiny and smooth fur and strong and powerful hooves. It was obviously a well-bred horse.

When the doorman saw her lift the curtain and smile, he lowered his head and looked pleasant, thoughtful and considerate.

"Sixth Miss, be careful on the road when you leave the house."

Xiao Zhao looked at it and couldn't help but be amazed.

She recalled the cold reception she and the girl received when they first arrived at Xue's house.

What a huge change in such a short period of time.
-
Tianshu was still waiting for her in the yard planted with mulberry and willow trees by the river.

He's not the only one.

There are also Yaoguang and Yuheng.

It was already dusk. There was a square tea table and an oven in the courtyard, and the aroma of meat and fruit wafted from the air not far away.

Yaoguang was as attentive as ever to Yuheng, and his peach blossom eyes seemed to be filled with stars, pure and blazing. Unfortunately, although Yuheng treated him kindly, she treated him like a sister to a brother, and she would roll her eyes at him from time to time.

Xue Sui took Mingge'er to sit down, and Yaoguang asked her with a smile.

"How is the preparation of the dowry going, Thirteenth Sister? Is there anything missing? The brothers and sisters would also like to buy something for you..."

Xue Sui smiled slightly and picked up the teacup.

"The Hongmen Banquet."

They all disapproved of her marrying into Prince Duan's family.

Yaoguang was speaking in a sarcastic way.

Yaoguang clicked his tongue, turned around and complained to Yuheng.

"Fifth Senior Sister, look at Thirteen. As soon as he arrived, he framed me and misunderstood our true feelings..."

Yuheng glared at him, "If you can't speak, shut up."

Yaoguang has always been a carefree person, and behaves very unruly. Apart from the three masters in the Old Mausoleum Swamp, there are only two people who can control him, one is the eldest senior brother and the other is the fifth senior sister.

With just a look from Yuheng, he became obedient.

He sighed and stirred the sizzling meat on the grill.

"Marry, marry. May my thirteenth sister find a husband of her dreams and live happily ever after."

Yuheng was silent.

It's not easy to do things in Shangjing City.

It is not easy to touch the emperor's beloved princess.

It is even more difficult to dig out the deep-rooted corruption of the nobles...

They all didn't want Thirteenth Junior Sister to take risks, get close to Prince Duan and Pingle, and deal with the noble forces. But they also understood her character. She had left the Old Mausoleum Swamp and handed over all the imperial edicts. She was ready to fight to the death. How could she change because of a few words?
Why would she care about love, or finding a perfect husband to grow old with?
Yuheng placed the roasted meat on the plate in front of Xue Sui.

"Senior sister won't stop you. If you need anything, just call me and I will come."

Xue Sui hummed, ate a piece of meat, drank a sip of wine, and felt relaxed and contented.

Talking and laughing with them, it seemed as if I was back in those leisurely days in the old Lingswamp.

Only Tianshu remained silent and barely looked up. He also did not eat, and fiddled with a bone jade bronze mirror beside the table, as if he were an outsider.

The bronze mirror had been polished to be extremely smooth, and the handle was forged from fine iron and inlaid with black jade gemstones. It was not any other mirror on the market, but was made by Tianshu's skillful hands.

Tianshu's fingers are very beautiful.

Her knuckles are long and slender, and because she is good at health preservation and conditioning, even her nails are a healthy light pink color.

At this moment, he was sitting quietly and concentrating on his work, dressed in white, with an extraordinary temperament. He was the one who looked most like a celestial being or an extraordinary gentleman among the thirteen brothers and sisters, as if he was not involved in the worldly affairs.

Yuheng took a look.

"Big Brother has put a lot of thought into preparing a dowry for Thirteenth Sister."

Xue Sui looked up at Tianshu and blinked.

"I've made a fortune this time. This bronze mirror inlaid with bone jade and gems is worth a fortune, a city, or a beautiful woman. I won't trade it for anything..."

Yaoguang smiled and said, "Wait until Senior Sister Yuheng gets married, then Senior Brother can come and do it again, okay?"

Tianshu ignored him, but Yuheng rewarded him with a bone claw.

"Even eating can't stop your mouth. I'll ask Master to marry you to the butcher's wife in Wang the Butcher's family and teach you a lesson!"

The two started bickering again.

Xue Sui watched with a smile, taking care of Ming Ge'er from time to time.

Tianshu said nothing, looking indifferent.

As Xue Sui and the other two's conversation faded, dusk fell and the sky and earth became dim. The light from the fire in the courtyard shone on his handsome face, and the bronze mirror in his hand was finally finished.

He handed the bronze mirror to Xue Sui.

"Ping An, come for a walk with me."

Yaoguang and Yuheng looked at each other without saying anything.

Xue Sui took the bronze mirror and looked at it carefully, then twisted the handle slightly and found a sharp dagger hidden in the handle.

What a thoughtful and sophisticated design!

It can be used as a woman’s dressing table and also for self-defense. I wonder how long it took my senior brother to make it.

Xue Sui frowned slightly.

"Brother, you don't have to do this. This isn't a proper marriage."

Tianshu looked at her and said, "Brother, I have nothing, Ping An, please don't despise me."

"How could that be? I love this bronze mirror very much."

Xue Sui smiled slightly, handed Mingge'er to Xiaozhao's care, and went out from the back door with Tianshu, walking slowly along the river bank under the willow trees.

The river gurgles, and the spring breeze in March stirs the branches of the weeping willows, making them sway gently.

Insects chirped at night and the weather was very pleasant.

Tianshu led a black-haired horse. After walking for less than a moment, he patted the horse's back and said, "Get on."

He felt sorry for Xue Sui's previous injury and couldn't bear to see her walk any longer.

Xue Sui did not refuse, stepped onto the saddle and climbed up.

Tianshu led the horse and walked slowly in front.

Xue Sui looked at his fluttering sleeves and his extraordinary temperament, like a banished immortal, and suddenly couldn't help laughing.

"Big Brother, you should be a general."

It was an inexplicable joke. Tianshu suddenly stopped and looked back.

"Why?"

Xue Sui said: "I have had this misconception since I first met you. Everyone says that Senior Brother is an expert in medicine and intelligence, but I know that Senior Brother loves to study military books, and is also skilled in archery, arranging troops, and sand table simulations. He is also very familiar with ancient famous generals..."

The Tianshu she spoke of was a completely different person from the Tianshu he showed externally.

If Yaoguang and Yuheng were here, they would probably be so surprised that their eyes would widen.

Everyone has preferences. Liking sweet rice dumplings doesn't mean you don't like salty ones. Why did the junior sister conclude that Tianshu's favorite thing was the art of war, rather than spying on Qi Huang?
Tianshu looked at her quietly for a moment without saying anything.

The hazy twilight covered his handsome face with a veil, cleverly hiding the ripples deep within.

There happened to be a full moon, falling into the clear waves of the river, causing ripples and lengthening the shadows of the two people.

Tianshu is a silent person.

If Xue Sui didn't speak, he wouldn't say anything.

After walking along the long river bank and finally reaching the end, he stopped and looked at Xue Sui.

"The road ahead is full of twists and turns. I just hope you can be safe, have peace of mind and be at peace."

Xue Sui smiled at him and held the bronze mirror tightly.

Moonlight fell on the mirror, and her deep eyes looked exceptionally bright.

"I will return safely."
-
Incredible.

Miss Xue Liu made an appointment with someone under the moon on the river bank.

After returning empty-handed 108 times and being exhausted, the two spies finally found a clue and reported it to the Eastern Palace in ecstasy.

"Your Highness, there is something wrong with Miss Xue Liu..."

"Subordinates have discovered something unusual!"

"Xue, Sixth Miss Xue, actually had a secret meeting with a man under the moonlight!"

Li Zhao leaned lazily on a carved wooden couch, with a soft Suzhou embroidery pillow against his waist, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the armrests, listening to his subordinates' reports in boredom, and was not as furious as they thought.

He didn't care which man Xue Liu was with or what he did.

But these days, he was puzzled about his own body.

Thinking of Xue Liu, his blood rushed up as if it was burning.

But since they were both infected with the "Love Thread Gu", could it be that only the "male Gu" in his stomach was restless and thinking about those messy things all day long? And the "female Gu" in Xue Liuzhong was reserved and never had any overreactions?

Moreover, he cannot find other women, but it’s okay for Xue Liu to find other men?

How could there be such an unfair Gu in the world?

The bastard must be deceiving him!
Li Zhao narrowed his eyes, rubbed his aching temple, and waved his hands irritably.

"Keep investigating and report back! The next one..."

The spy was slightly startled, then he bowed and said, "Yes!"

Another spy waiting outside saw his colleague coming out dejectedly, straightened his clothes, stepped over the threshold, and bowed cautiously.

"Your Highness, I have learned that Prince Duan left the capital and headed for Yunlu Mountain. He brought a team of elite imperial guards, about fifty people, with several sorcerers and wizards, as well as some sacrificial items."

Behind Yunlu Mountain is the Jiuling Swamp.

Li Zhao was in a state of shock and called Guan Ya over.

"Tell Night Owl to come see me at three o'clock tonight."

Sorry for the delay today, sister.

Let's watch the second update at dinner time, muah~